RAF helicopters pull passengers from ferry hit by ‘arson’ blaze

When passengers were eventually allowed off the King Seaways cruise ferry on its return to North Shields, North Tyneside, some vowed never to sail again after their frightening experience.

The blaze started in a cabin when the vessel was around 30 miles off the Yorkshire coast at 10.45pm on Saturday.

Two RAF helicopters scrambled to the scene and winched two passengers and four crew members to safety so they could have hospital treatment in Scarborough after breathing in smoke.

The helicopters from Leconfield near Hull and Boulmer, Northumberland rushed to the vessel along with lifeboats from Bridlington and Filey. The ferry sailed back to Tyneside and most of the 946 passengers were allowed off yesterday morning while others remained on board to be interviewed by detectives.

Northumbria Police arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of arson and a 28-year-old man was held on suspicion of affray. Scuffles broke out during the emergency procedure among passengers, some of whom had been drinking heavily.

Steven Basford, 28, from Northumberland, was travelling on the ferry with his partner to celebrate New Year with friends.

He said: “People were generally pretty calm. Obviously people had had a lot to drink. It’s a bit of a party boat. Two big blokes started brawling.”

Gert Jakobsen, a spokesman for ferry operator DFDS Seaways, said: “We are very sorry for those passengers who have not only been affected by the fire but now by these delays.

“We are looking at how we can help them.”